jaideeguy

I'm posting this to hopefully come up with some alternatives to songkran.......places [in country] to have a mellow songkran holiday with the family, but with out the insanity. Being the hottest time of the year, a cool place within driving distance of CM would be nice.

Or ....what alternatives 'out of country' [close to CM] would be nice??

Any creative ideas???? I want peace!!!

Yea, i agree with the majority....songkran is no fun for the sane [mature] falangs after the first one or two. My first songkran was sanook muck muck, the 2nd was a little fun, and the 3rd boring and others following have been painfully insane. This will be my 7th and i've learned to sotck up on supplies before the hordes come up and hunker down in my cozy insulated safe ban for the duration, which seems to get longer and longer every year.

The problem is that the wife and kids get excited about it and go along with the insanity and i worry about accidents, illnesses etc that go hand in hand with this insane holiday.

I would consider alternatives, 'in country' or 'out' and maybe i'll start another thread on 'tips to escape songkran?' and hopefully come up with creative ideas.......

I did have the same problem with my wife, she has lived here in the UK with me for 10 years, did not touch a drop to drink, maybe the odd glass of claret, we live in a small town in Wales, my wife was the only thai in the town, up to about 4 years ago, then her cousen turns up one day, no where to go, left her ferrang husband, so we put her in a flat of ours, then the problem starts, wife starts visiting her, drinking bottles of tequilla etc & gambling, now this was happening every week, bottles of wine etc, i to have two daughters the one 15 who thinks her mothers behavior was disgusting, and a daughter of 5, now there are approx 7 thai ladys in the town and are all mates, the other ferrang husbands were getting the same problem, just because of this one relative, who is a bad influence.

She has now moved away, found a new ferrang (bless his soul) and everything is back to normal, my wife never drinks anymore, just the odd glass of wine if we go out for a meal.

Your wife may have the same problem, mixing with friend's who are a bad influance.

Yea, you got it....in the past year her circle of friends has changed to the local drinkers [with her sister who is our maid] and of course they all encourage her to indulge. and i might add that she has told them about my disaproval and they all say that i am too controlling. maybe i am, but somebody has to control this insanity...

Thanks guys, for your interesting and supportive feedback. I do appreciate the idea of videoing her next episode [iF], because she often has no memory [blackouts?] of the night before.

In all fairness to her, she is a good mother and wife 95+% of the time and this holiday season was quite stressful for us all and a good drunk is how she [and most Thais] deal with stress....that's why there is so much voilence, accidents and stupidity at this time of the year. it is so anti productive to see the way that the 'social ministry' is dealing with the alcohol abuse here in LOS. alcohol buying curfews, bans on advertising and duty free alcohol, when the real problem is in the baan, where there is a wiskey shop on every corner

I should also mention that she is in her mid 30's and i'm almost 60 but i learned the value of moderation in my early 30's. Maybe i'm expecting too much emotional maturity of her?? I'm not bragging when i say that i last drank myself into a puking/blackout state was in my teens....no fun and never again.

And i do believe in moderation and respect for that 'demon drink' and enjoy my couple of glasses of wine with dinner.

as far as me leaving her, that's not so easy as i have invested in quite a nice home that i don't want [can't afford ] to give up and it is in her name, but i will consult with an attourney to get a firm lease so i can have some leverage IF the shi* hits the fan.

Anyway, thanks again for the good food for thought and I will chew on it for a while and try to keep my cool.

THANK BUDDAH THAT THESE ###### HOLIDAYS ARE OVER!!!

I've been married 5+ years to a beautiful thai wife and mother of two and early in our relationship, it became aparent that she had a problem with alcohol. She is not a daily drinker , but occasionally she will go on a binge with her friends and drinks herself stupid. the latest episode she drank too much and came home with the kids on the back of her weaving motorcycle, then got horney, but vomited during the 'act'..i kicked her out of bed then later got out my self and stepped into her puke. real turn off and this same scenario has happened several times.

it occurs during holidays, birthdays, partys which there are a lot of here in LOS. she calls it sanook...i call it ugly discusting hel_l!!

i've tried many things to put an end to it...bribery, threat of divorce, cutting 'gifts' to her family, and have even allowed her to have an occasional chang beer at home, but the situation is getting worse, three times this month [holiday sanook?].

i've divorced an alcoholic falang woman, and had alcohol ruin many other relationships and don't want to let it destroy this marriage..

after the latest 'episode' i laid down my 'final' threat to dump her, but will continue to support the children and i'm so tired of seeing this same movie that i will stick to my guns this time. i've suggested AA, but she denies that she has a problem.

any suggestions out there??

Is there anyone in the CM area that prepares U.S. tax forms. Need to get some questions answered before the end of this year, which is quickly approaching.

Thanks in advance....

Thanks for info on medicare. I didn't think that it was available, but wanted to confirm.

So, do any Americans out there with health insurance have any experience with claims for medical expenses abroad? My father has not yet canceled his insurance, but is considering it if his Kaiser Permenante health insurance balks at the small claim that he is trying to process.

Anyone with experience in this matter??

My father, recovering at age 87 from fractures brought on by osteoporosis, has been visiting from Hawaii and is thinking of moving permanently to the Land of Smiles -- provided he doesn’t have to give up too many perks he feels he earned in a long workday.

So, could anybody out there tell us who/how to contact about: Medicare, and the new drug benefit; the cheapest source of Fosamax (or similar) for soft bones. He’s currently paying $195 a month (soon to go up to $211) for a union-sponsored medical insurance policy -- with doubtful chance of reimbursement for out-of-US expenses. Has anyone out there had any experience in getting repayment from American health insurance providers while out of country?

If my father chooses to stay, he will probably be facing more med expenses in the future and we are considering dropping his health insurance and just pay out of pocket...which may [or may not]be much cheaper than the $200+/mo he is paying for insurance.

We’ve heard the Consulate isn’t very helpful to ex-pats

True?

thanks in advance for any info or personal experience

I have a home built pool in Chiang Mai and after a year, i get a scale [for lack of a better word] build up on the tile. could it be the water [ground water that leaves a noticable white film on glass and auto] or the trichloroisocyanuric [90% chlorine granules] that i use for my chlorine??

the scale is a rel pain to remove......last year i drained the pool and got a gang together with scrapers, 5+ gallons of hydrochloric acid...nasty stuff and only managed to remove 80% of the scale and now it's back after a year and i will live with it rather than go thru the cleaning again.

any suggestions or others with similar experience???

thanks in advance...

Hi,

I am looking for a good dermatologist in Chiang Mai ? Any name or phone number ?

Thanks,

Philippe

Me too!!, I posted a thread a couple of months ago and only got recomendations for the one in CM Ram hospital and i had seen him already and was totally dissatified with his performance...so i wouldn't recomend him. i'm still looking for one and will keep an eye on your thread for results.

Good luck!!

So, has anyone tried this ' Khun Suchart' and have any comments to make regarding his expertise and english skills?? and, will he make a house call in doi saket area??

The dermatologist I have seen at C M Ram does understand the various carcinomas the Western skin is prone to. (P.M. me for the name). That's an important (?essential) start.

It may be necessary to go to BKK for more high-powered laser treatments. I am thinking of doing it, so P.M. and we can make a pair or team for mutual support.

Sorry, i have to disagree with your assessment of the dermatologist im CM Ram. he was the reason that i startyed this thread. my first visit to him was in vane because his stock of liquid notrogen was out [still charged for exam and was told to reschedule when it arrived]. 2nd visit after i called to make sure he had liquid nitrogen.......he missed several 'spots' that he saw before and gave me a quick once over while yacking like a used car salesman.

OMHO....he talks the talk, but doesn't deliver and ....I'M STILL LOOKING for a good derma man.

I'm fair skinned and have abused my skin when younger and it was fashionable to have a tan.....now i'm paying the price with lots of skin problems and i've checked out the dermatologist in CM Ram and was not impressed with his bedside manner or diagnosis. Have asked around about others that may have liquid nitrogen to 'burn off' the affected areas, but no one i've found has liquid notrogen. Anyone out there in CM know of any good dermatologists that use liquid nitrogen??

I would be interested in what ever you find out there [prices and quantaties] and the exact location....if you find it. please post it or pm me.

thanks in advance,

jd

Good question....i've been looking for some epoxy in CM for years here and have only found those small tubes at high prices. i hope someone comes up with a source, it's always good to have around the house for repairs and projects.

Does anyone out there in chiang mai know of a source of rolled oats, other than Kasim's or Rimping which sells a kilo of oats for 100bhatt? maybe a wholesaler or bulk health food store? 100b/kilo is just too much!!

thanks in advance...

Does anyone out there in 'thaivisaland' know [from personal experience] of the exact requirements for obtaining a medical visa? I know that a person can obtain a long term visa for 'medical reasons' but, what are the reasons that are accepted by Thai immigration. a link to the official regulations concerning this would be appreciated, or first hand info.

Thanks for the info, Lopburry3.....we've been married [by thai law] for almost 5 yrs now and do you think that i can apply for some retroactive refund for the years that i didn't include her as a dependant??

I'm a retired American, married with children, living in LOS and need advise [professional or first hand] regarding claiming my wife and two children as dependants. We are legally married with amphor pa[ers and she has my family name. the children still have their former family names. is there anyone out there with experience and/or knowledge of the IRS 'rules' on this situation??

I'm a retired American, married with children, living in LOS and need advise [professional or first hand] regarding claiming my wife and two children as dependants. We are legally married with amphor papers and she has my family name. the children still have their former family names, but soon i will file for legal adoption. is there anyone out there with experience and/or knowledge of the IRS 'rules' on this situation?? i filed for an extention so i could work this out, but the extention is quickly expiring.

thanks in advance for any info.....

jd

Highly unlikely scenario!!

Geography is not a strong subject here, as i just refered to a map to confirm that IF a tsunami was generated in the Philippines, most [except for a little of the southern area] would be shielded by Viet Nam and Borneo. Maybe I'm wrong, but has there ever been a tsunami in the Thai gulf?? Why not run the test in the most prone areas, like the Andaman coast, where it has happened and may happen again?

Going on a fitness kick....life is too easy here and i'm not as active as i used to be before retirement and i've put on 30lbs too much.

Been searching the too many options available in the superstores and sporting goods shops and have settled on getting an elliptical type machines and have seen at least 10 models. most are the same [to my inexperienced eye], ranging in price from 7,000bhatt to 20,000bhatt, made in china or taiwan and have mostly the same features. most seem to have unfamiliar names, but may be the same as the big names in the west...norditrack, precor, etc.

in my internet research, i see what looks like the same machines going for $1,000+ and am wondering if they are the same same, but without the amerikan high mark-up and hype??

anyone out there have any info or experience with these locally available models. the 7kbhatt model seemed the same as the 20kbhatt model to me.

OK, then assuming that i get those documents in order, then where do i apply for me legally adopting. i've heard BKK from some people, but recently heard that there is a new law that lets me apply thru the municipal hall in CM, which would be a lot less painful than BKK.

thanks for your input

I posted the following on the 'general topics' thread and got mostly useless banter and no info, so let's hope that this posting on the 'Chiang Mai forum' will yield more constructive results........

I've been to two attourneys, went to my consulate {US}inquired with countless friends and have found lots of conflicting [and dated] info and was wondering if any forum members can advise me on the LATEST legal procedures regarding the adoption of our two thai children [ages 6 and 8] that i have been raising as my own for the last 5 yrs. Our 5yr marriage is legally registered with the wife's local amphor and i would like to give them my family name and later register them with my embassy and get them US passports for their future.

i've been told to start procedings thru the local amphor, the local municipal hall, and even bkk [that being my last choice, because i live in Chiang Mai].

I might mention that the oldest maintains his biological [deadbeat] father's name and the youngest has my wife's maiden name. my wife assumed my legal family name.

i've also gotten several different versions of what is required of me. one list had a total of 18 documents that i had to provide, most translated and noterised by my embassy [@ $30/stamp].

anyone out there that has actually done this recently, as i hear that there are new regulations that streamline the process from 2 yrs to less than 6 mo??

i love these two children as my own and i am 'papa' to them........just want to make it legal!!

Just to make my situation more clear........i have been living in LOS for 6+ years on retirement visa, have sufficient income to support and educate in the best schools my two kids, their [deadbeat] father is totally out of the picture [like i said, he abandoned both the first born and my wife and may be hard to contact, but his name is on the birth cirtificate as father of the oldest boy].

and my immediate goal is to simply go thru the legal thai adoption procedures and give them my family name........then eventually i will apply for US passports for them.

i just want to leave my kids with as many open doors [or options] as i can. that's simply what any responsible parent should offer their children.

So, does anyone out there in 'thai-visa land' have any recent experience with thai/falang adoption?? i know that i'm not the only one that wants to do this.......

thanks in advance.....

Just to make my situation more clear........i have been living in LOS for 6+ years on retirement visa, have sufficient income to support and educate in the best schools my two kids, their [deadbeat] father is totally out of the picture [like i said, he abandoned both the first born and my wife and may be hard to reach, but his name is on the birth cirtificate as father of the oldest boy].

and my immediate goal is to simply go thru the legal thai adoption procedures and give them my family name........then eventually i will apply for US passports for them.

i just want to leave my kids with as many open doors [or options] as i can. that's simply what any responsible parent should offer their children.

So, does anyone out there in 'thai-visa land' have any recent experience with thai/falang adoption?? i know that i'm not the only one that wants to do this.......

thanks in advance.....